Let’s Hear It For The Boys!

I’m not the biggest baseball fan in the world, but I am a huge Giants fan! So if you, by chance, were wondering why I haven’t posted anything about Lincecum’s masterful Game 1, Cain’s solid outing in Game 2, the near carbon-copy of Lincecum’s aforementioned performance by Jonathan Sanchez in Game 3, and now Bumgarner’s impressive night on the road in a close out game, a game which started as Bobby Cox’s potential finale’ … quite simply put, I wasn’t trying to jinx my boys.

Now that the NLDS is over with, and I must say, it was an exciting one at that, with each game being decided by controversial calls and a single run, but as I was saying, now that it’s over with, I can finally give my boys some praise! If pitching wins in the playoffs, I have to like our chances at a pennant, period. Between our four starters, the Giants gave up three earned runs. Do the math, three earned runs, four games. That is lights out pitching. Lincecum highlighted the series with a brilliant, dazzling playoff debut, in a pressure packed environment in which every pitch was magnified. One hanging slider, one mistake, and the Giants lose. Lincecum wouldn’t allow it, possibly dialing up the best pitching performance of the post season thus far. I know, I’m biased, but Roy Halladay had four runs to lean against, Timmy didn’t. And Timmy rung up 14 batters … I’m just saying.

Matt Cain followed it up, by going 7 & 1/3, only giving up an unearned run. Although not as flashy as Lincecum, or Sanchez, Cain delivers in workman like fashion, but all that matters is, he gets results. Unfortunately Romo ruined his playoff debut. And how about Jonathan Sanchez? Called upon to right the ship that was capsizing after taking a major hit, because the Giants blew a three run lead late in Game 2, losing in the 11th … but Sanchez delivered the goods. Unfortunately Romo ruined his playoff debut. Finally Bumgarner. How cool is this cat? The Braves were a desperate team swinging desperate bats, and despite some fireworks early for the Braves, Bumgarner never flinched. He stayed calm, cool and collective, and gave us 6 & 1/3 of solid pitching.

Onto Buster “NL ROY” Posey! He hit .375, and outplayed his ROY counter part in every facet of the game, but what impressed me most about Posey, his ability to lead. Name another first year catcher who can command the respect of such a mighty pitching staff? But when anyone of the studs on the mound lost control, it was Posey who got them back. Posey made all the right plays, even the ones that shouldn’t have counted, and he called the right games.

I can go on and on about the Giants. B-Willy, who resembles Jean-Claude Van Damme’s best friend in Bloodsport, and pitches as intimidating as he looks. Aubrey Huff, Cody Ross, etc. Euphoric is the word that best describes my feelings right now. I’m on cloud nine, a natural high, whatever it is, I’m enjoying every bit of it … at least for the next few days. Then my mind is on Philly. Tough task ahead. But these Giants are not done. Regardless of how the rest of the post season turns out for the Giants, this year’s rendition of the team is by far, my all-time favorite. Never have we had a group of players who the fans can connect to so easily, never have we had a team, that I feel, genuinely cares about us just the same. Never have we had a team that genuinely cares for each other for Christ’s sake! Bonds, Kent. Do you see the emotion these Giants let loose every time one of them comes through for each other!? It literally made my eyes tear to see Lincecum do the Jordan fist pump in the dug out after Huff tied the game in the top of the 9th in Game 3. Then Freddy Sanchez ,with his slide into home plate right into a jumping fist pump of his own, after scoring the go ahead run off a Conrad error! It’s our team, it’s like rooting for the boys, it’s our city, who is yearning for a winner, it’s how we got here, it’s how we get it done, the torture, and it’s how we wear our emotions on our sleeves. There’s a certain magic in the air surrounding these Giants, the city, the fans right now. I’m just happy to be a part of it.

7 responses to “Let’s Hear It For The Boys!”

The Giants rotation is probably the best one in the playoffs. So much was made of Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels, but the Giants can match each of those guys with their own aces. I really like their misfit type cast. I can’t remember a team changing so much over a season. There’s only a few guys that were in the lineup opening day and they still have banded together like they’ve been with each other their whole lives. I’m looking forward to seeing how Pat the bat does against his old team!

This NLCS is the series that makes a baseball purists smile. I will make no statements about which rotation is better, because honestly from one week to the next, it could really change, given the talent level of each of the top 3 starters for each team.

An advantage for the Giants is having Bumgarner and potentially Zito as aces in the hole if a 4th is needed, whereas the Phils would need to run out Joe Blanton in such a situation.

The Phils offense, on the other hand, is significantly better than that of the Giants. That could be the difference in the series, unless of course the Giants rotation continues to not allow any runs, no matter the opposing offense.

This is one of the most balanced series I have seen in a long time in the NLCS, and some of the best pitcher-to-pitcher matchups one could ask for. As a fan of a team that has been eliminated for several months, I have no rooting bias, and can not wait for the series!

Great points Bob! I think the wild card of this series has been “timely” hitting, and SF (specifically Ross and now Posey) has the advantage thus far. 3-1 does not mean anything for us though, 4-1 is where it’s at. Anything can happen, so I’m not easing up with a 3-1 lead.